Vote for change, to make India shine: Modi

Addressing a jampacked function of the Bharat Diamond Bourse -- the world's largest diamond exchange here, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Gujarat chief minister said "it is a matter of just eight months" for bringing a change in the country.

"After eight months, the country will emerge out of all the current challenges and difficulties and march forward to a new era," Modi said, clearly hinting that he expects Lok Sabha polls on time.

Flanked by BJP deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, Modi was given a tumultuous reception at Mumbai Airport and later at BDB where he addressed the gathering.

At his rhetoric best, Modi said that since the past nine years, the country is passing through an "eclipse" on all fronts under the United Progressive Alliance government at the centre.

"The government has not been able to keep the people with it. The people of the country are not ready to walk with the government," he said.

Referring to his own status, Modi said that in the post-Independence era, no other political leader has been criticized or abused like him.

"Go to Google and take out a printout of all the things against me... This auditorium will also fall short of space. But, despite this, the people have always supported me," Modi claimed amid huge applause.